SkyDrive Pro client now available for free

In an not unexpected move Microsoft has just release the SkyDrive Pro client as a free download. You can find it here:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=39050
Previously, as I have detailed in this blog, the only way that you could obtain the client app was by installing Office 2013 Pro Plus.
This is GREAT news as it makes SharePoint SkyDrive so much easier and available for all users! The SkyDrive Pro client app although now free is still only available for current Windows PC’s but I would expect you’ll see versions for other platforms available very, very soon. So stay tuned to this blog for updates!
Thank you Microsoft.

Typically Google

Before I launch into this tirade I will tell you that I use and like many of the Google products but this sort of experience is typical of what happens when issues do arise with Google services.

If you read “In the Plex” by Steven Levy you’ll learn that Google’s focus is on engineering better products rather than providing support. Their philosophy is that ‘”users help users”. That works most of the time but sometimes it would really handy to actually get through a real life human being rather than just a python script.

Case in point. I want to sell my eBooks via the Google Play store. so I visit the Google books partner login at:

https://books.google.com/partner

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This presents me with the following blank page:

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If I click the Contact Us links I am greeted by:

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So now where do I go? Only option seems to go “Googling” for an answer and I REALLY shouldn’t have to do that now SHOULD I?

If someone else out there know what I can do to get my eBooks listed on the Google Play store I’m ALL EARS!

Desktop to Cloud Day a success

I am happy to announce that the CIAOPS Desktop to Cloud day 2013 was a resounding success. Attendees were able to choose from two tracts with 5 sessions in each as well as a panel discussion to end the day.

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The average approval for all the sessions by attendees was over 85% which is fantastic!

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Some of the feedback received also included:

– Very relevant information

– Presenter knows their stuff

– Excellent presenter

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I take this opportunity to thank the presenters:

Andrew McMurray

Jeff Alexander

Mark O’Shea

Leon Tribe

Ishai Sagi

Dean Calvert

Abi Vickram

for their time not only presenting but preparing for the day.

Of course a big thank you goes to everyone who turned up on a Saturday to attend. I hope you got value for your time and enjoyed networking with your peers and the presenters. I’ll make the slide decks available soon for attendees but until then I hope to see you at an upcoming CIAOPS Desktop to Cloud event.

Office 365 email data at rest now encrypted

A while back I wrote a blog post about how I’d found that Office 365 data at rest was not encrypted. However, according to this newly released document:
Security in Office 365 White paper – http://www.microsoft.com/en-au/download/details.aspx?id=26552
It says:
Encrypted Data
Customer data in Office 365 exists in two states: at rest on storage media and in transit from datacenter over a network to a customer device. All email content is encrypted on disk using BitLocker 256-bit AES Encryption. Protection covers all disks on mailbox servers and includes mailbox database files, mailbox transaction log files, search content index files, transport database files, transport transaction log files, and page file OS system disk tracing/message tracking logs.
So it now appears that Microsoft has implemented an additional level of security on client’s data, which is great news! Now if they could only do the same for SharePoint, but I am sure it is coming soon.

Outlook Web App browser offline settings

One of the things you can now do with the version of Outlook via a browser (Outlook Web App) is actually take it offline in a browser. All the details can be found here:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-au/support/using-outlook-web-app-offline-HA102828007.aspx

However to enable all you basically need to do is open your Outlook Web Access

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In top right of the window select the cog icon.

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From the menu that appears select Offline Settings.

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Then simply select Turn on offline access.

What else do I need to know (from article)?

Offline access may not make all of your email and calendar information available offline. Some of the available features and limitations are:

  • The last few days of messages. Supported folders include Inbox, Drafts, and any folders viewed within the last few days, up to 20 folders. If you’ve viewed more than 20 folders in the last few days, the most recent 18 plus Inbox and Drafts will be available.
  • In each folder that’s available offline, you will see three days of content, or 150 items, whichever is larger.
  • Attachments aren’t available when offline.
  • The previous month and future year of your calendar.
  • A limited set of upcoming calendar reminders. If you’re offline for a long period of time, calendar reminders will stop working until you go online and Outlook Web App can download current information.
  • Only your primary Calendar will be available offline.
  • All the items in your Contacts folder, plus any people that you email often and any that you’ve emailed recently.
  • Offline access doesn’t include archived folders, Team folders, tasks, or Favorites.
  • You can’t search for or sort items in your mailbox when offline, and the built-in filters won’t work when you’re offline.

You have to enable offline access on each computer that you want to be able to use Outlook Web App on when not connected to a network.

Offline access for Outlook Web App is designed for portable computers such as laptops and notebooks. It can’t be enabled in browsers on smaller devices, such as tablets and smartphones.

Your web browser determines where on your computer the offline information is stored and how much space it can use. If your offline information won’t fit in the space that’s been set aside, you may be prompted to increase it. If the space can’t be increased, less of your information will be available when you’re offline.

CIAOPS Podcast–Episode 52


In this podcast Mitch Garvis about Windows Intune.
You can listen to this podcast and subscribe to the series at:
http://ciaops.podbean.com/2013/05/15/episode-51-mitch-garvis/
You can support this podcast via http://donation.ciaops.com
Don’t forget all the other previous podcasts at
http://ciaops.podbean.com
and appreciate a like over at
http://www.facebook.com/n2kpodcast.
Remember if you want to be a guest please contact me (director@ciaops.com).